WASHINGTON - The U.S. House was scheduled Aug. 1 to debate a one-year extension of the 2008 farm bill but the House Republican leadership pulled the legislation off the calendar July 31, raising new questions about the future of the 2012 farm bill.

House leaders decided against the one-year extension after many commodity groups said they opposed the stop-gap measure and it became clear July 31 there were not enough votes to pass it.

Groups such as the American Farm Bureau Federation said the one-year bill would not help farmers and ranchers. "A one-year extension offers our farm and ranch families nothing in the way of long-term policy certainty," said Bob Stallman, AFBF president.

Now the House is expected to approve a 22-page drought assistant bill (H.R. 6233) Aug. 2 that would provide funding for ranchers and some specialty crop growers. With drought relief a priority for many lawmakers and the Republican leadership seeking to avoid an unpleasant debate on the House floor over farm and food policies, Congress opted to pass it separately.

"My priority remains to get a five-year farm bill on the books and put those policies in place, but the most pressing business before us is to provide disaster assistance to those producers impacted by the drought conditions who are currently exposed," said House Agriculture Chairman Frank Lucas (R-OK), in response to news the drought relief effort would move ahead without the farm bill.

"The House is expected to consider a disaster assistance package on Thursday and I encourage my colleagues to support it. Beyond that, I will continue to work with my leadership, Ranking Member Peterson and our members to determine the best path forward," he said.

After leaving town Aug. 4, Congress returns in September, and the farm bill will have to be on its agenda before the programs expire Sept. 30.

"It's not the end," said Robert Guenther, senior vice president of public policy for United Fresh Produce Association and co-chair of the Specialty Crop Farm Bill Alliance. "It's going to be tough," he said, "but Congress has to do something by the end of September."

Mr. Guenther said the produce industry plans to continue working with Congress to pass the 2012 farm bill before it leaves town at the end of the year, but does not support a one-year extension of the bill.

While getting a major piece of legislation through Congress during election season is no easy task, there is still time for House and Senate leaders to engage in formal or informal conferences and pass a bill during the lame-duck session when lawmakers return to Capitol Hill after the November election, he said.